Ibadism

Origins and Early Development in Oman

John C. Wilkinson

Draws on early Ibadi and Omani texts that have recently become available

Describes the tribal context in which Ibadism first evolved

Discusses Islamic theology and law in its formative period

Pays attention to the importance of geographical setting on the history of Ibadism and Oman

Three maps and a genealogical tree accompany the text

Ibadism

Origins and Early Development in Oman

John C. Wilkinson

Description

Ibadism represents a branch of the third great division in Islam, that of the Khawarij. It survives in some isolated communities in North Africa, but manifested itself periodically in Oman as a full Imamate well into the twentieth century.

Using early material recorded in Basran and Omani sources, this book deconstructs the standard account of origins, showing that Ibadism's evolution into a madhhab (school) can only be understood in a wider historical perspective of the tribal and regional dimensions. Its activation among the Yamani tribes of Iraq requires reappraising what the Yaman-Nizar division represented in the Umayyad period, and the opening chapters demonstrate that there was a real split in pre-Islamic times between northern and southern Arabs
that was reflected in the great revolts of Ibn al-As'ath al-Kindi and Yazid b. al-Muhallab al-Azdi. The nascent Ibadi movement in Basra, whose solidarity was enshrined in walaya, the spiritual and physical cement binding the community to God, exploited the resulting resentment to establish Imamates in southern Arabia, followed by North Africa. Study of the earliest sources throws considerable light not only on Ibadi origins, but also the early emergence of Islamic kalam and fiqh and the influence of contemporary theological debate.

The history of Ibadism in the first six Islamic centuries is essential for understanding both the evolution of institutions and practical law. One of is strengths is the ability to adapt to different situations, and the pragmatic rulings concerning
agriculture, trade, mining, and in the case of Oman, its major role in expanding Indian Ocean commerce represents a unique maritime legal code. In parallel comes an increasing convergence towards Sunni-Ash'ari norms and the evolution of Ibadi identity as a madhhab. Sunna and hadith were absorbed into the athar of the community, which now develops as a formal line of transmission and even the production of their own hadith collection in the Maghrib. Nevertheless, interpretation still remained essentially open, thus giving the system a flexibility that ensured survival in widely different environments.

Ibadism

Origins and Early Development in Oman

John C. Wilkinson

Table of Contents

Geographical NoteA Preliminary Note on Omani and Ibadi Sources1. The Pre-Islamic Heritage: Yaman and Nizar2. The Pre-Islamic Heritage: Mazun and the Arabisation of Arabia3. The Conversion to Islam4. The Omani Tribes in Basra5. The Origins of Ibadism6. The Early Ibadis7. The Propagation of Ibadism from Basra8. The Establishment of the Imamate in Oman9. Law and Order10. The Ibadi Ethos11. Civil War and Aftermath12. Consequences13. The 6th to the 12th century14. Madhhabisation